Reckitt Benckiser

OVERALL

Owned

UK

Rating

Household, personal care and pharmaceuticals manufacturer

The world's largest maker of household cleaners. Their products are available in some 200 countries. Acquired Boots Healthcare International in 2005 and SSL International (makers of Durex condoms) in 2010.

Company Ownership

Owned by four siblings from one of Europe's wealthiest and most private families, the Reimanns. The company is run my three CEOs, who collectively own about 8% of JAB. Owns controlling stakes in beauty business Coty, luxury shoemaker Jimmy Choo, coffee giant Jacobs Douwe Egberts, beverages giant Keurig Dr Pepper and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, among others.

Company Assessment

This company received a score of 9 out of a possible total of 9 in the WWF Palm Oil Buyers' Scorecard 2016, which rates companies on what they are - and aren't - doing to prevent the negative environmental and social impacts of palm oil production.[Source 2016][More on Palm Oil]

In 2018, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change risk. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Climate Change Score of A-.[Source 2018][More on Climate Change]

The Union of Concerned Scientists' 2015 Palm Oil Scorecard scores America's top brands on their commitments to use deforestation-free palm oil. This company received a score of 72.3/100, signifying strong commitment.[Source 2015][More on Palm Oil]

In 2018, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts towards removing commodity-driven deforestation and forest degradation from its direct operations and supply chains. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Forests Score of B.[Source 2018][More on Forests]

The Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World list is an extensive data-driven corporate sustainability assessment. The ranked companies are leaders in the field of a sustainable business approach. The efficiency of a company's energy, water, CO2 and waste management is measured in relation to its total sales volume. The disclosure of that information is a pre-condition for the assessment. This company ranked #9 in the 2016 Global 100.[Source 2016][More on Sustainability Reporting]

This company sources palm oil from at least 20 of the 25 dirty palm oil producers identified in the 2018 Greenpeace report "The Final Countdown". In addition to deforestation, the 25 individual cases in the report include evidence of exploitation and social conflicts, illegal deforestation, development without permits, plantation development in areas zoned for protection and forest fires linked to land clearance.[Source 2018][More on Palm Oil]

This company appears on PETA's (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, USA) 'Companies That Do Test On Animals' list, signifying that they manufacture products that are tested on animals at some stage of development.[Source 2018][More on Animal Testing]

This company received a score of 10.5/100 (retrieved 14-Feb-2018) in the Corporate Information Transparency Index (CITI), a system for evaluating supply chain practices in China, particularly in regards to environmental management and water pollution. Scores are calculated using government compliance data, online monitoring data, and third-party environmental audits, as well as trends in the environmental performance of factories in the company's supply chains.[Source 2018][More on Habitats]

A 2016 report by Amnesty International found a range of labour rights abuses on the palm oil plantations operated by Wilmar's subsidiaries and suppliers in Indonesia. These abuses include worst forms of child labour, forced labour, discrimination against women workers, people being paid below the minimum wage, and workers suffering injuries from toxic chemicals. The report confirms that Reckitt Benckiser purchases palm oil from Wilmar.[Source 2016][More on Palm Oil]

In Apr 2011, Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc was given a final fine of 10.2 million pounds (US$16.6 million) by a U.K. regulator for halting supplies of a heartburn medicine to the National Health Service to block sales of a generic version.[Source 2011][More on Governance]

In Dec 2014 this company and 12 other consumer goods firms were fined a total of 951m euros by the French competition watchdog for price fixing in supermarkets. The regulator said the companies colluded on price increases between 2003 and 2006. This company was fined 121m euros.[Source 2014][More on Governance]

EWG's Guide to Healthy Cleaning provides safety ratings for household cleaning products, with over 2,500 products rated from A (lowest concern) to F (highest concern). This company's score range is B to F, with over 87% of products scoring a D or F.[Source 2016][More on Product Safety]

This company has been criticised by ActionAid for having subsidiaries in tax havens. One of the main reasons companies have subsidiaries in tax havens is to dodge their taxes. Developing countries lose more to tax dodging than they receive in aid each year.[Source 2011][More on Finance]

As listed on the We Mean Business website, this company has committed to the following climate action initiatives: remove commodity-driven deforestation from all supply chains by 2020; [Source 2017][More on Climate Change]

In 2014 this company announced it would expand its ingredients disclosure program to include the subset of fragrance ingredients identified as recognized allergens by the European Union's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety. This company was already ahead of the pack on ingredients disclosure with its website www.rbnainfo.com[Source 2014][More on Product Safety]

The Female FTSE Board Report 2015 examines the percentage of women on the UK's FTSE 100 boards of directors. This company was one of 41 in the FTSE 100 with at least 25% female directors. [Source 2015][More on Workers Rights]

This company is a member of How2Recycle. The How2Recycle Label is a voluntary, standardized labeling system that clearly communicates recycling instructions to the public. It involves a coalition of forward thinking brands who want their packaging to be recycled and are empowering consumers through smart packaging labels. Companies must be a member of the program to use the How2Recycle Label.[Source 2017][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives]

This company is a member of the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI) Platform, the main food industry initiative supporting the development of sustainable agriculture worldwide. Created by Nestle, Unilever and Danone in 2002, the SAI Platform is a non-profit organization to facilitate sharing, at precompetitive level, of knowledge and initiatives to support the development and implementation of sustainable agriculture practices involving the different stakeholders of the food chain.[Source 2019][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives]

This company is a member of the Supplier Ethical Data Exchange (Sedex), a not-for-profit, membership organisation that leads work with buyers and suppliers to deliver improvements in responsible and ethical business practices in global supply chains. Tens of thousands of companies use Sedex to manage their performance around labour rights, health & safety, the environment and business ethics.[Source 2018][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives]

This company is a member of the Green Chemistry and Commerce Council (GC3), a business-to-business forum that advances the application of green chemistry and design for environment across supply chains. It provides an open forum for cross-sectoral collaboration to share information and experiences about the challenges to and opportunities for safer chemicals and products.[Source 2019][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives]

This company uses microbeads in some of its personal care products, but have indicated it will replace them in a given timeframe or adapt the products accordingly. These particles are not retained by wastewater treatment so end up in the ocean. While microplastics aren't thought to be a health hazard to consumers, they are a threat to the marine environment.[Source 2015][More on Oceans]

The Forest 500 identifies, ranks, and tracks the governments, companies and financial institutions worldwide that together could virtually eradicate tropical deforestation. Rankings are based on their public policies and commitments and potential impacts on tropical forests in the context of forest risk commodities (palm oil, soya, beef, leather, timber, and pulp and paper). This company received a score of 3/5.[Source 2018][More on Forests]

Ethical Consumer has ranked companies' practices and policies in relation to their palm oil sourcing for the Rainforest Foundation/Ethical Consumer palm oil campaign. This company received a 'yellow' rating.[Source 2016][More on Palm Oil]

In 2016 Greenpeace East Asia ranked the world's 30 biggest personal care companies on their commitment to eliminating microbeads from their personal care products. The scorecard was based on four main criteria: commitment & transparency, definition, deadline and global application. This company was ranked as 'getting there'. Microbeads are not retained by wastewater treatment and end up in the ocean where they are a threat to the marine environment.[Source 2016][More on Oceans]

California, the UK and Australia have all enacted legislation requiring companies operating within their borders to disclose their efforts to eradicate modern slavery from their operations and supply chains. Follow the link to see this company's disclosure statement.[Source 2017][More on Human Rights]